The Monkey's Paw Group

Question:

greiyzsie17
greiyzsie17
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Element of the story of "The Monkey's Paw"?

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Posted by greiyzsie17 on Monday October 13, 2008 at 1:18 AM and tagged with element, the monkey's paw, themes.

Answers:

  1. reidalot
    reidalot Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    There are many elements to the short story, "The Monkey's Paw." First of all, suspense is evident when the reader is drawn into the plot which explores the themes of fate and chance: Will the Whites take the magic paw and will they get their wishes? Irony is also evident when the wish results in the death of their son, and, ironically, their last wish is to have him stay "dead," and all for a relatively small sum of money.

    This story explores human nature and our desire to have a magic wish and what we will do to get that wish!

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/monkeys-paw/themes

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    Posted by reidalot on Monday October 13, 2008 at 5:57 AM

  2. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The elements of a short story include, setting, plot, conflict, point of view, theme and character.

    The setting of the story is England, the White's modest home in a rural part of the country. 

    The plot revolves around a monkey's paw that Sergeant Major Morris brings with him when he visits the Whites' and subsequently sells to Mr. White for a small sum of money.  The monkey's paw is a charm with magical powers.  It has the ability to grant 3 people 3 wishes, Mr. White is the third owner. 

    The wishes that Mr. White makes result in severe tragic consequences.  In order to have his first wish granted, his son dies in an accident at work, thus he is awarded 200 pounds in compensation for his death.  The second wish for Herbert to be alive again is undone by the third wish, for Herbert to return to the grave.

    The characters: Mr White, Mrs. White, Herbert, Sergeant Major Morris, the Stranger who brings the Whites' the 200 pounds.  

    The conflict revolves around the use of the monkey's paw and the results of the wishes.  Fate and chance are themes in the story, along with the flaws of man who place a too high value on material possessions.

    The point of view of the story is Omniscient Objective, where the reader is left to draw his own conclusions. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/monkeys-paw/style
    http://www.enotes.com/monkeys-paw/themes

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Monday October 13, 2008 at 7:55 AM

  3. donovan
    donovan Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    they are very simple to locate in the story i should know i am doing the story and im only in seventh grade

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    Posted by donovan on Thursday November 6, 2008 at 5:31 PM